According to the Guardian’s Tony Naylor Common is “Arguably the best bar in Manchester, and a true-spirited independent.” Despite such an accolade, you will get no pomp from the fine people at Common. As it says on their website that since 2004 “We have been plying our trade from Edge Street, muddling through good times, bad times, indifferent times like a dysfunctional family”.
I love Common and have never once had a bad time there. Common is the perfect place in the Northern Quarter to relax and take your time over one of their seriously smart cocktails (you have to try their Maple Syrup Manhattan, and their Espresso Martini knock all others off the market). If cocktails aren’t for you (then you have serious issues) they have an impressive array of draught, cask and bottled beers as well as a load of wines and shorts to choose from plus a fantastic load of home-cooked food.
The walls of Common are a treat for the eyes. If you fancy some aesthetic stimulation, you only need take your mind off your drink for two seconds to find a wealth of liveliness across the place. They are constantly updating their walls and shutters with the most current and cutting edge artwork that simply adds to the treat of the place.
Not content with feasting your eyes and your bellies, the kind people at common put on a great mix of musical wonderment each month. Here’s June’s listings, see what takes your fancy and head down to Common, for relaxation and decadence, to partying the night away.
Friday 1st – Freitags with E Squeezy
An excursion of musical wonderment joining the dots between Kraut, Baltimore Club, House, Indie, Electro, Outsider Pop, Disco, Cosmic Nonsense and forgotten gems – 9pm till 2am / free before 10pm / £2 after
Saturday 2nd – Friends in Common with Robert Parkinson
We invite our favourite friends to play their favourite records. Expect to hear music you never knew you liked. Pop music played with sense and sensibility, country with soul, and maybe something that will make you dance. We hope you enjoy it as much as us! – 9pm till 2am / free before 10pm / £2 after
////////////
Wednesday 6th – Common Knowledge
Edge Street’s finest quiz with your hosts, Mister John Ruane and Master Chris Higson. Gather your friends, form a team, give it a witty name, answer questions (correctly), win prizes! Watch out for the elusive final round – 7.30pm till 11pm / free
Thursday 7th – Stop Making Sense
Chasing the vibe dragon down the rabbit hole of genre. Summoning the beat daemon with the wonky Ouija Board. A weekly séance with the kings of pop featuring Mr Seb Valentine, Benatronic & Luke Warm – 9pm till 2am / free
Friday 8th – Freitags with FucknFilthy Presents
An excursion of musical wonderment joining the dots between Kraut, Baltimore Club, House, Indie, Electro, Outsider Pop, Disco, Cosmic Nonsense and forgotten gems – 9pm till 2am / free before 10pm / £2 after
Saturday 9th – Pumping Iron
A night of Nu Cosmic Italio, Vintage Avant Garde Disco and Lo Fi Rhythmic Punk – 9pm till 2am free before 10pm / £2 after
////////////
Wednesday 13th – Tears for Ears with Patterns (DJ Set)
A fortnightly commune of pitch perfect pop. Featuring guests and residents playing the finest records around 8pm till midnight / free
Thursday 14th – Stop Making Sense
Chasing the vibe dragon down the rabbit hole of genre. Summoning the beat daemon with the wonky Ouija Board. A weekly séance with the kings of pop featuring Mr Seb Valentine, Benatronic & Luke Warm – 9pm till 2am / free
Friday 15th – Freitags with Will Tramp!
An excursion of musical wonderment joining the dots between Kraut, Baltimore Club, House, Indie, Electro, Outsider Pop, Disco, Cosmic Nonsense and forgotten gems – 9pm till 2am / free before 10pm / £2 after
Saturday 16th – Friends in Common with Full Beam
We invite our favourite friends to play their favourite records. Expect to hear music you never knew you liked. Pop music played with sense and sensibility, country with soul, and maybe something that will make you dance. We hope you enjoy it as much as us! – 9pm till 2am / free before 10pm / £2 after
Sunday 17th – Haxan
Following sonic ley lines across radiophonic disco and film score techno with Michael Holland and Conor (Boomkat) – 4pm till midnight / free
////////////
Wednesday 20th – Common Knowledge
Edge Street’s finest quiz with your hosts, Mister John Ruane and Master Chris Higson. Gather your friends, form a team, give it a witty name, answer questions (correctly), win prizes! Watch out for the elusive final round – 7.30pm till 11pm / free
Thursday 21st – Stop Making Sense
Chasing the vibe dragon down the rabbit hole of genre. Summoning the beat daemon with the wonky Ouija Board. A weekly séance with the kings of pop featuring Mr Seb Valentine, Benatronic & Luke Warm – 9pm till 2am / free
Friday 22nd – Freitags with Benjamin Yourself
An excursion of musical wonderment joining the dots between Kraut, Baltimore Club, House, Indie, Electro, Outsider Pop, Disco, Cosmic Nonsense and forgotten gems – 9pm till 2am / free before 10pm / £2 after
Saturday 23rd – Friends in Common with Elliot Dobbs
We invite our favourite friends to play their favourite records. Expect to hear music you never knew you liked. Pop music played with sense and sensibility, country with soul, and maybe something that will make you dance. We hope you enjoy it as much as us! – 9pm till 2am / free before 10pm / £2 after
////////////
Wednesday 27th – ‘Tears For Ears’ with Pigeon Post
A fortnightly commune of pitch perfect pop. Featuring guests and residents playing the finest records around. 8pm till midnight / free
Thursday 28th – Stop Making Sense
Chasing the vibe dragon down the rabbit hole of genre. Summoning the beat daemon with the wonky Ouija Board. A weekly séance with the kings of pop featuring Mr Seb Valentine, Benatronic & Luke Warm – 9pm till 2am / free
Friday 29th – Freitags with Craig Campbell
An excursion of musical wonderment joining the dots between Kraut, Baltimore Club, House, Indie, Electro, Outsider Pop, Disco, Cosmic Nonsense and forgotten gems – 9pm till 2am / free before 10pm / £2 after
Saturday 30th – Friends in Common with Neil Atkins
We invite our favourite friends to play their favourite records. Expect to hear music you never knew you liked. Pop music played with sense and sensibility, country with soul, and maybe something that will make you dance. We hope you enjoy it as much as us! – 9pm till 2am / free before 10pm / £2 after
10% off selected food and drink all day every day (T&C apply) with your shiny orange card. Haven’t got a card? Join us www.aplacecalledcommon.co.uk or sign up behind the bar. Follow our fun filled ways – twitter.com/common_bar
All images © Sebastian Matthes (Manox)
Tags:
Northern Quarter
